True Detective, undeniably the best TV show that this year has delivered, was a particular thrill for fans of Matthew McConaughey. The a-list star has been reinventing himself through a series of gritty independent films (most memorably being the twisted Killer Joe) before cementing his new thespian qualities with Dallas Buyers Club, which netted him an Academy Award. But some will hold that his career’s current high mark sits with Rustin “Rust” Cohle, the stoic and analytical detective that starred alongside Woody Harrelson in True Detective.
True Detective is not an ongoing saga – every season is a self-contained story and as such the next season will not be a continuation from the debut’s events. So when McConaughey declared that he won’t be appearing in future seasons, it was assumed that he was focused on his renaissance’d movie career. But speaking to Deadline, the actor revealed that he didn’t want to be trapped in a show for several years. Yet he is actually not against returning to True Detective:
I liked True Detective, the whole series and the experience of making it, so much that I’d be open to doing another one now. At the time, I was looking at six months and not beyond that. I don’t know of a feature film I’d sign for where I’m going to say, “If this works, you’ve got me whenever you want me for the next three years.”
The interview also reveals other interesting things about the show. McConaughey was actually approached to play the role of Marty Hart, Cohle’s partner in the season. But he had his mind set on Cohle and Hart instead went to Woody Harrelson, who remains severely under-praised for his fantastic, nuanced performance. McConaughey is not sure if he suggested Harrelson for the part, but he fully agreed with the casting:
I’ve been told I was the one who said, “You got to go to Woody for this.” I don’t know if that came out of my mouth first, but I know that if it didn’t, I agreed when I heard it and knew he was a great choice right away.
The interview is a fascinating read both for True Detective and McConaughey fans. He discusses why he chose to do the show, his changing career, the shifting landscape of television and crafting the enigmatic character of Rust.
True Detective season 2 shifts its focus to California and will feature three leads, some if not all of which will be women. It’s likely to air in early 2015.
Last Updated: June 9, 2014
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 9, 2014 at 13:05
I read earlier this morning that Killer Joe is going to become a TV series as well.
http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/32433/two-friedkin-film-noirs-get-tv-adaptations
James Francis
June 10, 2014 at 15:46
Hmmm, that could be interesting.
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 9, 2014 at 13:14
Has anyone watched the series? Good? Also, safe to watch with a 5yo in the house?
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 9, 2014 at 13:22
My mom & sister finished watching it Sat night, they really enjoyed it. From what I remember of the pilot, and it being an HBO show, it’s probably not rugrat-friendly.
Andre116
June 9, 2014 at 13:26
First put on some underwear then I’ll tell you.
Andre116
June 9, 2014 at 13:34
Yes, it is good…I’m still busy with it. Both lead characters are a bit on the amoral side, but in different ways. Not kid friendly. Some swearing, nudity and violence (though nothing as gratuitous as Banshee). Good solid series. If I was to compare it to another show, I’d say it is kind of similar to Breaking Bad.
James Francis
June 10, 2014 at 15:45
Another comparison is the movie No Country For Old Men. It has a very similar look and feel to it.
Andre116
June 10, 2014 at 16:33
Good comparison. For some reason I did not like Country for old men though. I think I’m ok with a slow burn in a series, but not for a movie I want to grab it from the get go…and that didn’t.
James Francis
June 10, 2014 at 17:59
McConaughey lays it out very well in the interview:
Well, even when you’re talking about Heat, Silence Of The Lambs, you are working in this 2- to 2 1/2-hour medium, and you’ve just got to compress so much. Here’s what we had on True Detective, and it was the first thing I noticed when we were making it: If you break it down to the three-act structure, that first act is three hours, and the second is three and the last one is two, roughly speaking. So the first thing that would have been edited out, left on the floor in most studio pictures is the stuff in the first act. You want to hurry up and get to that point on point page 35, where the conflict is introduced and you get on with the story and the action. But what do you set up in Act 1? That’s where you introduce your world and your characters and their relationship. Well, in True Detective we had a third of 450 pages. We got 150 pages just for our first act, all that character development that actors love. That’s the stuff they drop first in studio films, because they’re like, “Let’s hurry up and get on with it. Audiences are smart enough that they know what’s happening; let’s get on with the action.” But as an actor, I love that first act, I love the setup, that time where you know you’ve got to be patient, to let a story and a character unfold slowly.
Andre116
June 10, 2014 at 20:43
Yup, that pretty much sums it up.
James Francis
June 10, 2014 at 15:43
I guess it depends on what your 5-year old is doing 🙂 It is an adult show, but it is not gratuitous.
Choffel
June 9, 2014 at 14:43
Saw this over the weekend and watched the entire season in one day – really enjoyed it. Was a treat to see the two of them on screen together, and Cohle’s character was an interesting one indeed.
James Francis
June 10, 2014 at 15:44
I couldn’t manage it in one sitting – too intense and heavy/
Choffel
June 10, 2014 at 15:47
I had a break for dinner in between! Sadly it’s a problem with me though, if I have free time I can’t stop watching a series if I get into it it – I HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
James Francis
June 10, 2014 at 15:56
For those keen to watch the first season, a warning: if you want a good Whodunnit, you’ll be disappointed. The crimes being investigated take a distinct backseat to the character-driven drama of the two leads. It’s still an excellent detective show, but one that focuses on the detectives, not their case. If anything the show can be accused of just using cop-character cliches. But it does it so damn well that it all feels fresh and exciting.